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Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri May 27, 2005 at 02:18:48 PM EST
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A loss for the Justice Department. A jury has found David Rosen, HillaryClinton's chief fundraiser, not guilty of campaign finance violations.

The charges grew out of a campaign fund-raising event in August 2000 called the Hollywood Gala Salute to President William Jefferson Clinton. Mr. Rosen told campaign officials in Washington that the event cost about $400,000; the government says expenses for the gala topped $1.1 million, although the total cost of the extravaganza remains unknown to this day.

Much of the testimony in the course of the three-week trial concerned the arcane rules of the Federal Election Commission during 2000, rules that Judge A. Howard Matz at one point described as even more incomprehensible than the federal tax code.

Several jurors said that Mr. Rosen's decision to testify in his own behalf had impressed them favorably, and that they had been disturbed by the lack of testimony from Mr. Rosen's chief accusers, including Mr. Tonken and the man who bankrolled the fund-raiser, Peter F. Paul. Mr. Paul is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of stock manipulation.

Ultimately, the jury's verdict came down to the lack of documentary proof that Mr. Rosen was aware of the costs of the Hollywood gala.

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    • Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial | 4 comments (4 topical)
    Re: Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial (none / 0) (#1)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:24 PM EST
    et al - Proof once again that these rules are silly and that the public get's it. What we need is only one rule. Full, 100% disclosure within 8 hours of commitment and/or receipt of where the money is coming from. That way we would know who is buying them.

    Re: Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial (none / 0) (#2)
    by aw on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:26 PM EST
    For once I agree with you PPJ, though I would prefer 100% public financing of campaigns. That would be a lot less expensive for all of us. Now, why haven't you commented on the admission of torture by the DOD-blaming-it-on-the-FBI in the post above?

    Re: Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial (none / 0) (#3)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:26 PM EST
    aw - Public financing would rapidly become caught in a web of "qualification" laws and do nothing but further solidify our current group of Dems and Repubs. No, let's just tell everyone who and what and let the public sort it out.

    Re: Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:26 PM EST
    Public Financing, can and does work. Just look at the UK model. Anyone else long for the days when lobbying was referred to by it's actual name, bribery?

    Jury Acquits Clinton Aide in Fundraising Trial | 4 comments (4 topical)